Archive - Sports Article
April 18th, 2013
PAWTUCKET â The good news coming out of McCoy Stadium on Thursday afternoon was that rehabbing Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who had struggled at the plate in his first five games with the Pawtucket Red Sox, smacked a home run leading off the sixth inning of the PawSoxâs game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
But aside from that, and a four-run rally in that inning by the PawSox that tied the contest at 5-5, there wasnât much else to smile about on the homefront.
LINCOLN â One by one, Division I squads are coming for Lincoln High, all of them mounting serious challenges.
On Thursday, it was East Providenceâs turn to put Lincoln through its paces. The Townies did not back down in the slightest, moving to within a run after scoring three times against Lions ace pitcher Lindsay Mayer in the sixth inning.
April 17th
PAWTUCKET â At this stage of his rehab assignment, David Ortiz is more concerned about feeling good when he steps out of the batterâs box as opposed to actual results.
The Red Sox star came out of Wednesdayâs contest admitting that his injured heels are doing just fine. He finished hitless in four at-bats as Pawtucket bid adieu to a two-game losing streak with a 6-1 triumph against Lehigh Valley.
PAWTUCKET â If first impressions do indeed count, then Mitch Maier put his best foot forward upon formally introducing himself to PawSox manager Gary DiSarcina.
âHeâs very driven and focused,â was the takeaway DiSarcina had of Pawtucketâs new outfield addition. âI didnât have to ask him to come into the office and go over the signs. He walked right in that first day.â
PAWTUCKET â Minutes after St. Raphael Academy had suffered a 4-2 Division I defeat to previously winless North Providence High at Vets Park early Wednesday afternoon, veteran head coach Tom Sorrentine stood by the first-base line, trying to wrap his thoughts around what had just transpired.
Think of it: Senior southpaw Zach Mitsmenn scattered only six hits and three walks while whiffing a whopping 11, but still took the loss and, incredibly, fell to 1-1.
April 16th
PAWTUCKET â For members of the PawSox family with Massachusetts blood running through their veins, the horrific and tragic events that marred the Boston Marathon hit particularly hard.
âItâs a special day for race fans and baseball fans; thereâs a (Boston Bruins) game at night. Itâs a great time for the town,â explained manager Gary DiSarcina, a native of Malden, Mass. and current resident of Plymouth. âWhen you least expect it, thatâs when these things happen.â
PAWTUCKET â What David Ortiz is attempting to do is adhere to spring-training protocol.
The question is, will the Red Sox slugger be able to get everything ironed out over eight or so at-bats in the coming days with the Pawtucket Red Sox? In 2010, Ortiz received 62 at-bats in spring training and equaled the total the following year. In 2012, he collected 57 Grapefruit League at-bats.
WOONSOCKET â In an impressive 26-game win streak that dates back to its season opener a year ago, Lincoln has experienced only a handful of close games that not only tested the teamâs mettle, but also presented some anxious moments for its players, coaches, and fans.
But while most of those tight contests were decided by three or more runs, only one was a one-run nailbiter â Tuesday afternoonâs chilly Division I affair against host and longtime foe Mount St. Charles.
April 15th
PAWTUCKET â The Pawtucket Red Sox, already off to its finest start to a season in club history, seemed poised to move to 10-1 after holding a 3-1 cushion through seven innings on Monday night.
But righty reliever Chris Carpenter surrendered the Lehigh Valley IronPigs five runs in the top of the eighth, and the PawSox ultimately suffered an 8-3 International League-North beatdown before 3,849 fans at McCoy Stadium.
WOONSOCKET â A walk-off win that results in Woonsocket Highâs first triumph of the season. That was the narrative of the Villa Novansâ come-from-behind performance on Monday.
You hate to associate âmust winâ with a game that takes place during the second week of the regular season. Standing at 0-2 in Division I-North and 0-3 overall, Woonsocket understood that halting the slide was imperative against a St. Raphael outfit that was seeking to maintain its pristine ways.
BOSTON (AP) â How runners from Rhode Island finished in Monday's Boston Marathon.
182, Jason T. Reilly, Cumberland, 2:37:27.
767, Philip A. Kiesling, Cranston, 2:49:49.
1012, Roy Smoot, Providence, 2:53:02.
1286, Lukasz Willenberg, Barrington, 2:55:55.
1334, Jeffrey J. Walker, Westerly, 2:56:16.
99, Karolyn A. Bowley, Middletown, 2:57:41.
1596, Peter Harley, Bristol, 2:57:59.
1753, Clay Howland, Providence, 2:58:51.
1847, Jeffrey Vuono, Westerly, 2:59:20.
120, Megan C. Jaswell, Johnston, 2:59:25.
2468, David Constantino, Cumberland, 3:03:43.
April 14th
A little of this, a little of that âŠ
Thereâs plenty of blame to go around now that a Massachusetts group has been given the responsibility to assign, evaluate and train officials for Ocean State-based games.
Itâs the result of an embarrassing fallout exposing unfortunate and regrettable decisions made by all involved parties in the saga over the fate of Rhode Island high school football officials.
PAWTUCKET --- Itâs been said time and time again that life begins at 40, but in Linda Bachandâs case, running careers can also begin at that age.
Four years ago, Bachand, a 44-year-old detective and 18-year veteran of the Pawtucket Police Department, stumbled upon a health and wellness expo with a co-worker during a work conference in Florida.
The expo was being held in conjunction with a nearby marathon that was scheduled that weekend, and when Bachand, who was looking to kill time, toured the expo, something inside her clicked.
April 13th
PAWTUCKET â The story on Saturday afternoon wasnât so much that the Pawtucket Red Sox assembled a mammoth sixth-inning rally to snag a 7-1 Game 1victory over the Rochester Red Wings at McCoy Stadium, but instead that David Ortiz played a key role in it.
The 37-year-old designated hitter, on a 20-game rehab stint with Pawtucket after suffering a right Achillesâ injury in a triumph over the Chicago White Sox last July 16, delivered a two-run ground single to right to help his club extend its lead to 4-1 â and continue Pawtucketâs finest-ever start to a season.
April 12th
CUMBERLAND â For runners like Dave Constantino, the unicorn on the logo of the Boston Marathon has been fitting.
For nearly a decade at the hallowed 26.2-mile race, the 43-year-old Cumberland native has tried to track down his own personal unicorn â that is, break the 3-hour mark â but each time, heâs fallen short.
And he has come oh-so-close. Two years ago, his time was 3:04:46. The previous year, he ran a 3:07:40. And in 2006, his second trip to Boston, he turned in a 3:09:27.
PAWTUCKET â From a win-loss perspective, the Pawtucket Red Sox canât ask for much more. Winners of six of seven games, it seems that Mother Nature, not the opposition, is the teamâs toughest foe in the seasonâs early stages.
Fridayâs postponement of Rochester-Pawtucket marks the second time in three days that the pitter-patter of raindrops has come into play for Gary DiSarcinaâs ball club. This past Wednesday saw Pawtucket play two innings at Lehigh Valley before the game was halted in the second inning due to rain.
April 11th
PAWTUCKET â It was clear that David Ortiz was in no mood to stroll down memory lane.
Asked if he felt a touch of nostalgia upon returning to McCoy Stadium for the first time since the memorable three-game show he put on during the summer of 2008, the Red Sox slugger offered a wry smile. After being down for so long, itâs clear that Ortiz is using his rehab stint with the PawSox as a prime opportunity to make up for lost time.
âBeen a while, huh? Yeah, man, just coming down here to get some at-bats and get that engine going,â said a succinct Ortiz.
PAWTUCKET â As if enough confidence wasnât radiating from Jose Iglesias already, the shortstop was privileged enough to spend part of his Thursday afternoon with a noteworthy batting practice partner.
About two hours prior to first pitch, David Ortiz emerged from the clubhouse to get a few on-field swings. Fighting through the crowded wall of TV cameras and microphones, Iglesias had every intention of stepping in the cage the moment Ortiz needed a breather.
Iglesias may have been at McCoy Stadium, but it was clear that the big leagues were still on his mind.
April 10th
Wednesdayâs announcement from the Rhode Island Principalsâ Committee on Athletics regarding the awarding of a two-year football officialsâ contract to a group from Massachusetts does not automatically spell the end of Rhode Island-based officials from overseeing games statewide.
What remains to be seen is just how many Rhode Island officials are willing to put hurt feelings aside and âbreak ranks,â those words coming from Bruce Guindon, a Pawtucket native and registered Interscholastic League official.
PAWTUCKET â A tip for those with plans to turn out at McCoy Stadium for the Pawtucket Red Soxâ home opener on Thursday night: Make every effort to get comfortably seated by around 6:15.
An elaborate pre-game ceremony laced with pageantry will directly lead into the 7:05 first pitch between Pawtucket and Rochester. The festivities commence with a tribute to neighboring police and fire units. The jubilant spirit inside the ballparkâs walls will undoubtedly remain at a fever pitch when the 2012 Governorsâ Cup champion PawSox are recognized as part of a special ring ceremony.
